ABSTRACT
A series of new aminomethyl derivatives of methyl-substituted asymmetrical curcumin mono-carbonyl was synthesizedand evaluated for their anticancer potential by means of cytotoxicity and selectivity determination against MCF-7,WiDr, Hela, A549, PLC/PRF/5, and Chang Liver cells lines using the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium proliferation assaymethod. All the synthesized compounds (3a–f) exhibited high cytotoxic against WiDr cells lines, but only 3a–e hadhigh cytotoxic against MCF-7 cells lines, and only 3b showed high cytotoxic against HeLa, A549, and PLC/PRF/5 celllines. However, 3b and 3c exhibited high cytotoxic against Chang Liver (normal liver) cells lines. Further evaluationsshowed that compounds 3d, 3e, and 3f exhibited a potent and selective cytotoxic agent (IC50 = 5.70, 5.55, and 2.97µM) against WiDr (colorectal carcinoma) cells lines with selectivity index (SI) = 4.43, 2.69, and 2.04, respectively.The compounds performed better cytotoxic activity than curcumin and 5-fluorouracil (IC50 = 8.29 and >100 µM andSI = 1.28 and <1). So, compounds 3d, 3e, and 3f were potential as an anticancer agent for colorectal carcinoma andshould be further studied for investigating their mechanism of action and their effectivity in preclinical studies usingan animal model..